Window construction having releasable sash engaging strip



March 1954 Y H. A. ETLING 2,671,251

WINDOW CONSTRUCTION HAVING RELEASABLE SASH ENGAGING STRIP Filed Aug. 16,1950 5 Sheets-Sheet l IN VEN TOR. HAROLD/l. [TL/N5 A TTOP/Vf/f arch 9,1954 H, A. 'ETLING 2,671,251

WINDOW CONSTRUCTION HAVING RELEASABLE SA'SH ENGAGING STRIP Filed Aug.16, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Y M9010 ,4. [mm

LM $0M H. A. ETLING March 9, 1954 WINDOW CONSTRUCTION HAVING RELEASABLESASH ENGAGING STRIP Filed Aug. 16, 1950 I 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 I INVENTOR.

HA/POZD l4. [Tl/0'5 WWW ATTOP/Vf/J Patented Mar. 9, 1954 UNITED STATESPATENT QFFICE Harold A. Etlin'g, Marshallville, Ohio, assigno'r toWeather-Seal Ina, Barberton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio ApplicationAugust 16, 1950', Serial No; 179,804

8 Claims. 1

This invention relatesto window casings and means for positioningwindows in a window casing for conventional sliding movement in thecasing and for convenient and read removal from engagement with thecasing for cleaning the window or other purposes.

Heretofore there have been various types of window constructionsproposed by which a double hung window sash can be slid up and down, orback and forth in a casing for opening or closing the window; asdesired. Other window construetions have been proposed utilizing sometype of resiliently positioned strip or edge member which engages andpositions at least one edge of a conventional double hung window sashfor retaining dow from engagement with the casing. Thus cleaning of theouter surface of such window or windows is facilitated as is thepositioning, insort or removal of storm windows, screens and the like,into and from engagement with the outer portion of the casing normallyforming the outer portion of the house or other structure in which thewindow casing is positioned. However, all of such resiliently positionededge strips and similar means known to me have been somewhat diflicultto control in that it has been almost a two person operation to removeone of the windows from such a type of a window casing, and it has beenparticularly difficult for women to do by themselves since one had todepress the resilient edge positioning member or strip and at the sametime support the window sash itself and swing the sash out of engagement with such resiliently positioned edge retaining strip or othersimilar member used. Likewise, in replacing the sash in a window casing,it has been somewhat difficult and cumber' some to reengage the sashwith the window cas' ing since by such action, the resilient edgeengaging members in the casing must again be depressed or moved, whileholding the sash. to permit reengagement of the sash with the windowcasing. Such action has been particularly diificult to perform sincenormally both sides of the window sash have had resilient edge engagingmeans provided therefor.

It is the general object of the present inven tion to avoid and overcomethe foregoing and other difficultie's with presently known types ofconstructions of the type indicated, and to provide a resilientlypositioned edge strip for engaging and retaining a window sash in awindow casing, which edge strip is characterized by its ability to besecured in an inoperative position in a casing.

A further object of the invention is to simplify the action of removinga, sash from engagement with a window casing, and the reengagem'entthereof.

Another object of the invention is to separate the support of a sashfrom the action of releasing the window sash from a casing, in a windowconstruction of the type indicated.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pivotal and sliding typeof a window sash that can easily be constructed from a conventionaldouble hung sliding window and a novel method of eiiecting suchconversion.

A further object of the invention is to provide a lock device forretaining a retractable sash positioner stripin a window casing in aninoperative position and have a convenient release action provided forsuch lock. v

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a releasable lock in awindow sash edge en-- gaging member wherein such lock will move bygravity automatically from its locked or operative position to thereleased position thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide relatively inexpensive.but sturdy, neat appear: ing window sash engaging strips which are ofsubstantially weather-tight construction.-

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the inventionwill bemade mor apparent as the specification proceeds.

For a better understanding of th present invention, reference should behad to the accompanying drawings which discloseone presently best knownembodiment of the principles of the invention, and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation, partially broken away and shown in section,of a window construction embodying the principles of the invention;

Figs. 2 and 3 are enlarged horizontal cross sections, partially brokenaway, taken 'on lines 2 2 and 3-'3 of Fig. l; r

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on line '44 of Fig. 2showing the edge engaging. stripin its operative position; and

Fig. 5 is a section similar to Fig. 4 showing the edge engaging strip inits retracted or inoperative position.

In referring to corresponding parts in the aceompanying drawings and thefollowing specification, corresponding reference numerals will be usedto facilitate correlation between such parts.

Reference now should be had to the details of the structure shown indrawings and there is shown a casing which is indicated in general bythe numeral I. This window casing I is shown as positioning upper andlower sashes 2 and 3, respectively, as conventional double hung windowsashes for sliding movement. The casing is shown as includingsubstantially conventionally positioned vertically extending framemembers 4 and on opposite sides of the casing I, and the frame member 4is shown as having guides or stops I5 and I positioned at oppositemargins thereof on the inner and outer portions of the casing I withrelation to the structure in which the casing is positioned. Likewise,similar guides or stops 8 or 5 are provided on the margins of the framemember 5 and these guides or stops aid in positioning the sashes 2 and 3for sliding movement in the casing I.

In order to position one edge of the sashes 2 and 3 in the casing and topermit pivotal movement of the sashes as will hereinafter appear, thecasing frame member 4 has secured thereto a pair of hinge and uideplates I0 and I that normally extend the height of the casing and whichare positioned in spaced but parallel relationship on the frame member4. These hinge and guide plates in and II are adapted to receive andpivotally engage with hinge means I2 and I3 which are individuallysecured, respectively, to the upper and lower sashes 2 and 3', as bymeans of Wood screws I4. Usually the hinge and guide plates I0 and I Iare secured to the frame member 4 by screws I5. Figs. 2 and 3 best showthe construction previously referred to and it will be seen that thehinge and guide plate I0 has the lower sash 3 pressing against the frontor inner surface whereby this plate In forms one positioning means forthe lower sash 3. The remaining guide plate II forms the other memberfor defining more or less of a channel in which the edge of the lowersash 3 is received for sliding movement. The guide or stop 6 forms theother member for defining the position of the upper sash 2. Usually thehinge means or plates I2 and I3 provided are more or less roughlyZ-shaped in section with one end portion of same being received withinan edge recess I6 and I! formed in the upper and lower sashes 2 and 3,respectively. These recesses I6 and I! are adapted to receive therein aconventional spiral type sash balance I8 the lower end I9 of each whichis engaged with the lower portion of the sashes 2 and 3. The hinge meansused permit free sliding vertical movement of the upper and lower sashesin the hinge and guide plates ID and I I provided, whereas engagementbetween the hinge means used permits pivotal movement of the upper andlower sashes about the hinge and guide plates I0 and II, as willhereinafter be described.

As an important feature of the invention, a pair of retractable edgestrips are provided for being positioned in the planes defined by thewindow sashes 2 and 3 to temporarily or releasably engage the edge ofsame opposed to that secured to the hinge and guide plate means I0 and II. A center guide or stop is suitably secured to and extends from thevertically extending frame member 5. Elongate strips or rails 2| and 22are snugly received between the guides or stops 8 and 20, and 20 and 9to form a substantially weather-tight connection therebetween, but stillto permit relative movement between the strips 2| and 22 and theirassociated guide means. Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings show that ribs 23and 24 are formed on the strips 2| and 22 respectively, and are adaptedto engage with edge grooves 25 and 25 formed in the upper and lowersashes 2 and 3, respectively. The strips 2| and 22 are forced laterallyinwardly with relation to the casing I by conventional spring means,such as coil springs 27, that are compressed between the strips 2| and22 and the associated casing frame member 5 whereby such strips or railsare forced or urged resiliently and continually inwardly of the casingfor resilient engagement with the edge portions of the window sashes 2and 3.

Fig. 3 of the drawings clearly shows that appreciable clearance isprovided between the adjacent surfaces of the frame member 5 and thestrips 2| and 22 when the springs 27 have urged such strips out toengagement with the sashes 2 and 3 whereby a force manually applied tothe exposed surface of the strips 2| and 22 can move same towards theframe member 5 laterally outwardly with relation to the casing I againstthe force set up by the springs 21. Such outward movement of the strips2| and 22 is of sufficient extent to disengage the ribs 23 and 24 fromthe rooves 25 and 26 in the window sashes to free such edges from thecasing I and all means associated therewith. Accordingly, the sashes 2and 3' then can be pivoted or swung inwardly of the casing about thehinges provided therefor. Usually the ends of the springs 21 engagedwith the strips 2| and 22 are received in recesses 28a provided in suchstrips. Normally the strips 2| and 22 extend completely the verticalheight of the casin and are positioned thereby against any verticalmovement.

An essential feature of the present invention is that the strips 2| arepositioned by use of means which limit or curtail the extent of relativeseparating movement between the strips 2| and 22 and the frame member 5with which they are associated. Accordingly, some means such as screws28, which may have washers 29 associated with them, secure the strips 2|and 22 to the casing frame member 5 but permit the springs 21 to urgesuch strips into normally spaced relationship with such frame means.

Yet another important feature of the invention is that a rectangularlock plate 30 is engaged with each of the screws 28 and is adapted toaid in maintaining the strips 2| and 22 in their operative orinoperative position, dependent upon the specific positioning of suchlock plate with relation to the screws at any given instance. These lockplates 30 are shown as being slotted at 3| with the slot extendingsubstantially longitudinally thereof, and with a pair of upstanding sideflanges 32 being provided in opposed relation on a pair of oppositesides of the lock plates 30. The flanges 32 engage with the washers 29and such flanges are of proper depth or height that when the screws 28are engaged with the flanged portion 32 of the lock plate 30, the strips2| and 22 are moved to their positions adjacent the casing frame member5, which is their inoperative position, and at which time the strips arenot engaged with the sashes 2 or 3. Usually an end or stop flange 33 isformed on an end of the lock plate 30 and it protrudes farther from theplate than the flanges 32 to acetamform a convenient stop to 11mmrelative move ment between the" lock plates and the screws 28'positioning same. Sliding movement of the lock plates from onepositionto another is facilitated by inclined end portions 32a on theflange's- 32-.

Fig. 5 shows that there is a little" clearance between the strips 2|and' 22 andthefrarne'memher 5' when the strips are inoperatively positioned; By this type of a construction, a person is able to depress thestrips 2| and 22 further outwardly of the casing I when the strips areinoperatively positioned and it is desired to posi-f tionsameoperatively; Such further movement of the strips 2| and 22 effects arelease of the lock plates 30 and, since the end flanges 33- arenormally at the lower ends of the" lock plates" 30} and the slots 3|aref vertically positioned; will permit gravity to slide the lockplatesfrom their positions forcing the strips 2| and 22 to theirinoperative positions to released positions at which time the strips 2|and 22- will be automaticall'y urged inwardly of the casing forengagement with the" grooves 25 and 2-23 provided in the sashes 2 and 3.Usually the lock plates 30 are received in recesses 34 that are formedin-theexposed surfaces of the strips 2| and 22.

Itwill be appreciated that in some instances it may not be necessaryto'position the lock plates 30 in exactly the manner shown herein andsuch lock plates may have horizontal movement in some instances, or elsethe lockplates may have limited movement in a recess provided in thestrips 2| and 22 and not have any slots formed in the lock plates andwith the screw 28 or equivalent member merely engaging an edge portionof the lock plate which has limited movement in a positioning recessformed in the strips 2| and 22. Furthermore, in some instances it mightbe desired to invert the lock plates as and this would cause gravity tohelp draw the lock plates down into their positions locking the stripsin inoperative positions. Rotary types of cammed or other lock means mayalso be used on the strips 2| and 22 to limit the positions of same. Thestrips 2| and 22 may even be positioned for longitudinal movement insome cases and have the lock and release means formed therein or securedthereto.

It should be observed that the construction of the invention can readilybe made from a conventional double hung window casing by a relativelyfew simple operations. First of all, a guide stop would be removed fromengagement with the vertically extending frame member 4 and areplacement or filler block 50 would normally be substituted therefor.Next the edges of the window sashes 2 and 3 adjacent this frame member 4would be routed out or a groove would otherwise be formed therein forreceiving the balances provided, if such edges had not previously beengrooved. Then the hinge plate means l and II and the hinges I2 and I3would be secured to the frame member 4 and the sashes 2 and 3,respectively and this portion of the construction would be complete. Theconversion of the window sashes to a pivotal type of operation iscompleted by cutting off an edge portion of the sashes 2 and 3 so thatsuch sashes extend in width across the casing only to the innermost edgeof the stop 20. Then the grooves 25 and 26 would be cut in the edges ofthe sashes 2 and 3 for receiving the retractible sash positioning strips2| and 22 to be used in the casing l. Such strips 2| and 22 would besuitably secured to the casing member by the particular type of lock andsecuring means to be used in such a con- 6 s truction', and the windowcasing would be effc; tively' converted to" a pivotal and sliding typeof a double hung windowi v In operation. it will be appre'ciate'd thatthe sashes 2" and 3 can be slid up'and down in the casing and theexposed portions of" thestrips" 2| and 22 can be individually movedintoan operative or inoperativepo'sition; as' desired. The sashes 2 and3 next would be shifted to" their opposite positions,- and the remaininglengths of the strips 2 and 22 would be expose-d for vary: ing thepositioning thereof. Since" the sashes 2 and 3- are completely"supported on the" hinge and side plates and hinge means" showrico'nibination; with the balances provided, the per-sea releasing thesashes from thecasing i need not support the sas-he's at suchtinie,whereby e'n gagement of the sashes with the casing, or ra lease of same'therefrom isgreatly facilitated. Furthermore, the balances I18 mayfbesoconstructed that they will automatically swinges'ash, when released fromthe casing l, inwardly" of the casing" to secure an automatic releasingaction of same from the casing; I I

From the foregoing, it is submitted that a: relatively sturdyconstruction has been provided which permits a window sashto bereajdilyen gaged with the casing or be removed therefrom for pivotal andswinging movement with r'elaition thereto whereby it is submitted thatobjects of the invention are achievedi 7 While one complete embodimentof the'ifive'r i tion has been disclosed" herein; itwill be ap*preciated that modification-of this particular" embodiment ofthe-invention may beresorted to without departing fromthe' s'cope o'fu-i-einveri: tion as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, .what I claim is:

1. Apparatus comprising a strip for engaging an edge of a window sash toaid in positioning same, spring means for engaging said strip to urge ittowards a window sash engaging position, said strip being movable to aposition out of engagement with a window sash by compression of saidspring means, and releasable lock means for retaining said strip in itsinoperative position, said lock means being permanently engaged withsaid strip and being changed from operative to non-operative position byrelative longitudinal movement of said strip and lock means.

2. Apparatus for securing a window in a window casing, which apparatuscomprises a strip for engaging an edge of a window sash to aid inpositioning same in a casing, spring means adapted to be compressedbetween a casing and said stri to urge it towards a window sash engagingposition, said strip being movable to an inoperative position out ofengagement with a window sash by compression of said spring means, andreleasable lock means for retaining said strip in its inoperativeposition, said lock means having zones therein of different thickness.

3. In apparatus as in claim 2, said lock means' comprising screw meansfor securing said strip to a casing and permitting relative movement ofsaid strip towards and from the casing, and a lock plate slidablyengaged with said screw means on the face of said strip to be ositionedremote from the casing, said lock plate having longitudinally spacedrelatively thick and thin zones therein separately engageable with saidscrew means to control the positioning of said strip with relation tothe casing.

4. Apparatus as in claim 3, said lock plate being movable from itsposition securing said strip in its inoperative position to its positionreleasing said strip by gravity when said spring means are furthercompressed by movement of said strip toward a casing when said strip ispositioned in its inoperative position.

5. Apparatus comprising a strip for engaging an edge of a window sash ina plane defined by the sash to aid in positioning same, spring meansengaging said strip to urge it towards a window sash engaging position,said strip being movable to a position in the plane of but out ofengagement with a window sash by compression of said spring means, andreleasable lock means for retaining said strip in its inoperativeposition, said lock means being permanently engaged with said strip onthe surface thereof to be positioned adjacent the sash, said lock meansbeing completely received in a recess provided in said strip.

6. In a latch, a lock strip having an elongate recess in one surfacethereof, a lock plate slidably receivable in the recess in the lockstrip, securing means having a head portion for engaging an outerportion of said lock plate for securing it in said recess in the lockstrip and for engaging the lock strip to a support, and resilient meansfor urging said lock strip in a direction towards the head portion ofsaid securing means, said lock plate being positioned by said lock stripin combination with the force exerted on said lock strip by saidresilient means, said lock plate having a longitudinally directed slotextending therethrough, said securing means extending through said slotto permit movement of said lock plate with relation to said securingmeans and extending through said lock strip to position such strip,

8 said lock plate being of different effective thicknesses at difierentlongitudinal portions of the slot therein to position said lock strip atdifierent distances from a support with different longitudinal positionsof said lock plate with relation to said recess.

7. In a latch as in claim 6, said lock strip being movable in thedirection in which said recess extends thereinto when said securingmeans engages the thickest portion of said lock plate to release saidlock plate, said lock plate being movable longitudinally in said recessby gravity from a locked to an unlocked position.

8. In a latch as in claim 6, said securing means comprising a screw forextending through said lock strip to position it, and said lock platehaving flanges for a portion of its length to form the thickest portionof such lock plate.

HAROLD A. ETLING.

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